Which Paralympic sport uses a bench press as its only competition lift?

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Para powerlifting uses a bench press as its only competition lift.

Athletes lie on a specialised bench and lower a barbell to the chest before pressing it upward to straight arms. Each competitor normally receives three attempts, and the best successful lift determines the result. The athlete with the heaviest valid lift in the relevant weight category wins.

Unlike Olympic weightlifting, para powerlifting does not include the snatch or clean and jerk. The sport is designed for athletes with eligible physical impairments, and competitors use strict starting, movement and judging requirements to ensure that lifts are comparable.

The sport was formerly known as wheelchair powerlifting in some contexts, although participation is not restricted only to wheelchair users. Para powerlifting became part of the Paralympic programme at the 1984 New York and Stoke Mandeville Games.

Source: Wikipedia · fact-checked Sept. 2026

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